Volume 3 Chapter 8 The Mastermind
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Bringing the magic light closer, I peered at the girl huddled on the floor.
She was completely bare, a slave collar fastened tightly around her neck. Her petite frame was nearly the same as Lena’s, her skin pale like porcelain drained of warmth. Long golden hair flowed down to her waist, though the area around her ears was matted with dried blood.
As I leaned closer to her face, the truth became painfully clear. This girl had endured something terrible for far too long. Her lifeless blue eyes, dulled like glass left in the rain, showed no reflection. The corners of her eyes were red and swollen, stained with tears.
She looked at us with those hollow eyes and whispered, trembling, “No… no… no…”
She shook her head like a frightened child, dragging her body backward in panic—only to bump into the wall. Realizing there was no escape, she clutched her head and collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably.
”No… no… nooo, aahhh…”
…Has her heart already been broken beyond repair?
A heavy feeling settled in my chest as I looked down at her. When I turned to glance at Lena, she was biting her lip, her eyes glassy with tears. Whatever she remembered must have been cruel.
Still, that didn’t mean I could turn away.
I drew my sword without hesitation and cut through the chain that bound the girl. Just as I reached to wrap my cloak around her body──
”Ah… ahh… ah, aahh, aaahh!?”
Suddenly, she convulsed.
”Huh!?” Lena gasped beside me.
”Damn it!” I cursed under my breath.
Her bare stomach bulged unnaturally, swelling as if something inside was forcing its way out.
”Ah… aghhh!”
Her eyes went wide, drool and mucus leaking from her mouth and nose as she clenched her teeth and spread her legs, thrashing violently. From between them, a faint blue glow began to seep out—slowly taking a human-like shape.
”Aaaahhh!?”
A thick surge of magic burst forth, coalescing into the form of a goblin. The girl gave one final scream before collapsing, limp and unconscious.
What emerged was already a full-grown monster—these creatures never have a childhood. They enter the world fully formed.
When I looked toward Lena, she had both hands over her mouth, tears pouring down her cheeks as she trembled.
No one should have to witness something like this.
I stepped in front of her to block the view, then raised my sword and, without pause, cut the goblin down.
”Gugghh!?”
It died within seconds—if something born of magic power can even be called alive.
* * *
”Lena, are you okay? If you feel sick, it might help to throw up,” I said gently.
”I… I’m fine… but we need to help this girl…” Lena replied, wiping her tears away with surprising calm.
I nodded and removed my cloak, gently draping it over the girl’s small body. Just as I reached to lift her──
”Shh!”
A sharp presence brushed against the edge of my senses. I spun around and released a dart without thinking.
”Hya!?” Lena let out a startled cry as she followed my movement and turned to face the threat.
”Oh, what a reckless intruder,” a voice said.
Standing ahead of us was a man in a gray robe. My dart hovered in midair, frozen just before it reached him.
”A magician? Are you the one controlling this dungeon?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
The man waved his hand lazily, and the dart fell to the ground. With a smirk curling from under his hood, he spoke.
”Interrupting someone’s experiment like this… it’s quite the hassle,” he said with a sigh.
”Experiment?”
”Yes. An experiment to strengthen monsters. As you just saw, the results are quite promising. I was enjoying my success—until now.”
As he spoke, he pointed his rod at us and chanted a quick spell.
’Enchant.’
I poured magic into my sword, and a faint purple glow wrapped around the blade. Just in time—I swung at the fireball flying toward us.
The sword clashed with the spell, canceling each other out. Sparks of magic scattered into the air as both disappeared, and the light from my sword faded.
”A magic swordsman, huh?” the man said with an amused tone.
”It’s not that impressive,” I replied, pulling three darts from my belt and hurling them before dashing in to attack.
”Hmph.”
With one hand, the man raised a magical shield, blocking the darts. With the other, he caught my sword mid-swing using his rod.
”You’re right—it’s not impressive. Swordsmanship, magic—both second-rate. Just a clever little brat playing hero,” he muttered with a bored voice.
He then murmured an incantation. The moment his rod clashed against my sword, a shockwave exploded outward. I was thrown back, but I adjusted mid-air and landed safely, skidding across the floor.
”Sir Soyuz!?”
Lena ran toward me, pale and trembling.
”If you hurt Sir Soyuz, I’ll make you pay,” she said, her voice low and fierce—unlike anything I’d heard from her before.
”Oh, how terrifying,” the man chuckled, clearly mocking her.
But he wasn’t wrong—I couldn’t beat him like this.
”Step back. You’re not ready to face him,” I said, pulling Lena behind me and placing a hand on her shoulder.
”Oh? So you think you can beat me?” the man sneered.
”Eh? Ah. I could, maybe,” I said, frowning at him like he was talking nonsense.
Then I leaned toward Lena’s face.
”Just wait. I’ll finish this quick. Also, this is a ‘charm,’” I whispered.
And kissed her.
Our lips met. Our tongues touched.
For a moment, Lena’s eyes widened. Then, as if her heart melted, she nodded softly.
”Yes… I’ll do as you say…”
”Good girl,” I said, patting her head before stepping away.
”You didn’t even stop me. You could’ve cast a spell, you know,” the man said.
”I thought I’d at least let her have a proper goodbye,” I answered.
This kind of overconfident guy… easiest to deal with.
”Well then, let’s begin.”
I let go of my sword mid-air and pulled out eight darts, throwing them all with both hands—each tipped with a potent knockout poison. Even one scratch would end it.
Of course, it wouldn’t be that simple.
”You really don’t learn,” the man muttered, swinging his rod and swatting them all aside.
’Enchant.’
He caught my sword mid-fall, charged again, and struck. I aimed for his chest.
But—
A metallic clang echoed. My sword bounced off harmlessly. His robe had turned solid as armor.
I jumped back.
”Huh? You can reinforce robes like that with magic?” I asked, honestly surprised.
”Any first-rate mage can. And any first-rate swordsman could still cut through it. You’re neither,” he said, raising his rod.
A dozen glowing missiles formed around him.
”This is the end.”
’Shield.’
I summoned a barrier, but the strength of a magic shield depends on the caster.
His power overwhelmed mine. The shield cracked and broke.
”Damn!”
I swung my sword to knock away the remaining missiles. By the time they were gone, the magic had faded from my blade.
”Not bad. Quick, accurate, decisive… but it’s clear. You can’t win.”
He looked absolutely certain of his victory.
Yeah. He’s easy to fool.
”…It’s not over yet,” I muttered, faking desperation.
”Oh ho? Then show me your trump card,” he grinned, launching another missile.
Let it hit.
I dropped my sword, reached for my belt, and drew a dart.
’All magic enchantments!’
Magic surged into the eight darts, and I cast them forward.
They blasted through the incoming missile and shot straight for him.
”Hmph!”
He raised his rod again and summoned a defensive shield.
──And then.
”Take this.”
I threw a small glass vial.
”?!”
Even though he blocked the darts, the vial shattered against the magical barrier. Its contents turned to mist and filled the room.
”What is this…?”
He gasped, then fell to his knees, clutching his head. The shield vanished.
I walked forward slowly and picked up my sword.
”This vapor comes from volcanic springwater in the north. Makes it hard to breathe and think. Deadly to mages.”
I smiled as I held the blade toward him.
”H-how are you okay…?”
”Oh, this.”
I stuck out my tongue, showing the chewed leaves.
”I had it in my mouth… from the kiss earlier.”
When I glanced back, Lena was still dazed, whispering to herself with glazed eyes.
”Y-you… coward…”
”There’s no cowardice in a fight to survive. And you underestimated me. I’m not a magic swordsman or anything. Just average at both.”
I pressed the tip of my sword against his throat and spoke softly.
”But when it comes to poison… I’m the best there is.”
With one swift motion, I drove the blade forward.
Notes:
• Lena – Female. A young slave girl in her early teens. Her appearance is emaciated with brown skin, long black hair, and grotesque scars across her face, including one that blinds her left eye. She wears a black collar and tattered clothing. Her relationship to the protagonist is that of a rescued victim. She is silent and appears to have endured severe physical and emotional abuse.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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